Denaturalization has always been possible under the Immigration and Nationality Act. For decades, however, prosecutors have treated it as a last resort, largely reserved for war criminals, spies, and those linked to terrorism. The law is clear under Section 340(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1451(a)): if someone obtained citizenship illegally […] The post Trump Orders First-Ever Massive Denaturalization Push in Modern U.S. History appeared first on StoneZone .
What instructions were included in the "Civil Division Enforcement Priorities" memo issued by Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate in June 2025?
The internal memo issued by Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate directed civil litigators to prioritize these cases, and by December 2025, USCIS was instructed to start referring up to 200 potential files a month.
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How has the Department of Justice's approach to handling denaturalization cases changed under the current administration?
Previously, most civil denaturalization cases were handled by a small specialized unit inside the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL) in Washington, D.C. Now, to handle the increased volume, the DOJ is spreading the cases out to civil prosecutors around 39 regional offices of the U.S. Attorney’s Offices across the country.
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What specific criminal offenses were mentioned in the Department of Justice's announcements regarding denaturalization cases filed between July 20 and August 3?
The cases filed between July 20 and August 3 involved individuals accused of attempted first-degree murder, assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill, aggravated assault and battery, aggravated sexual assault of a child, child sexual abuse, health care fraud, and drug trafficking.
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How many civil denaturalization complaints has the Department of Justice filed since President Donald J. Trump returned to office on January 20, 2025?
Since President Donald J. Trump returned to office on January 20, 2025, the department has filed 123 civil denaturalization complaints, which is the most in recorded history; previously, the government averaged about 11 cases a year between 1990 and 2017.
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What legal authority allows the government to revoke citizenship under Section 340(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1451(a))?
Under Section 340(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1451(a)), if an individual obtained citizenship illegally or through the concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation, the government can ask a federal judge to revoke the order of naturalization and cancel the certificate.
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Denaturalization has always been possible under the Immigration and Nationality Act. For decades, however, prosecutors have treated it as a last resort, largely reserved for war criminals, spies, and those linked to terrorism. The law is clear under Section 340(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. § 1451(a)): if someone obtained citizenship illegally or through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation, the government can ask a federal judge to revoke the order of naturalization and cancel the certificate. The Trump administration is intensifying efforts against naturalized U.S. citizens who concealed criminal records or lied on their citizenship applications. On July 20 , the Department of Justice…Open